A corner of Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom Park that has been stuck in design limbo for quite some time finally has a new look. As of July 13, the Toy Story (1995) theming that once defined the space has given way to something more in line with the land’s futuristic identity.
This Tomorrowland Space Has Been Redesigned
Guests exploring Tomorrowland on July 13 were met with a noticeably different character meet-and-greet area near Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin. WDW News Today shared a photo of the updated space on Facebook, documenting the overnight transformation of a spot that had been missing its Buzz Lightyear character presence for some time — the themed backdrop and stamping platform where the Space Ranger once greeted guests had long been collecting dust.
The redesigned space trades the Toy Story-inspired details for a broader Tomorrowland aesthetic. The toy-like faux-button decals are gone. The battery-inspired flooring tiles have been pulled up and replaced. Frames and surrounding elements have been repainted in blue and silver, and while the backdrop retains its intergalactic character, it reads as a general vision of the future rather than a specific nod to Andy’s toy box. The “SPACE RANGER MAP” LED sign remains in the space but was turned off when the photo was taken.
A second nearby meet-and-greet location — a more utilitarian silver garage door — hasn’t received the same treatment yet. Whether the new design will extend to that spot is unclear.
The characters most likely to appear in these Tomorrowland meet-and-greet spots are Stitch and Chip & Dale — making the updated backdrop a more fitting setting for those characters than the Buzz Lightyear theming that preceded it. For current character appearance times, the My Disney Experience app remains the best real-time resource on the day of a Walt Disney World Resort visit.
Tomorrowland’s Ongoing Transformation
The meet-and-greet update is one of several simultaneous changes reshaping Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom Park. The final decorative tower from 1994 was removed from the land on the same day the new meet-and-greet theming appeared. The updated Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin has already reopened following its own refresh, while Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress is currently closed for a comprehensive reimagining. Rumors of a potential Space Mountain overhaul announcement at the upcoming D23 Expo have been circulating for the past several days.
Have you ever met Buzz Lightyear or Stitch in Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom Park? Disney Dining would love to hear about it in the comments!
